1. Chapter 8, Section 4
The War of 1812

2. Early Battles War of 1812 began in the summer months
United States up against the world’s most powerful military (Great Britain)
War Hawks (pro war members of Congress) made claims that the war would be a swift and easy victory

4. War at Sea British navy had hundreds of war ships
United States navy had fewer than 20 at the start of the war
Most of Britain’s ships were scattered across the globe
Great Britain had a vast colonial empire covering almost every continent on the globe
United States navy was small but well trained
Powerful new warships like the USS Constitution
Americans had several naval victories in one-on-one duels
These victories embarrassed the British and boosted American morale
Eventually, the British navy blockaded America’s seaports

5. Battles Along the Canadian Border
American leaders wanted to follow up naval victories with an invasion of British Canada
3 planned attacks
From Detroit
From Niagara Falls (present day Buffalo, NY)
From the Hudson River towards Montreal

6. Battles Along the Canadian Border
American Attack from Detroit (failed)
British soldiers and Native Americans led by Tecumseh captured Fort Detroit
Other American attacks failed because state militia refused to cross the Canadian border
Argued that they did not have to fight in a foreign country

7. Battles Along the Canadian Border
1813 Americans went on the offensive again
Goal was to break British control of Lake Erie
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in command
Battle of Lake Erie
Perry said out to meet the British on September 10
Battle ended when the British surrendered
Perry’s brilliant victory forced the British to withdraw, giving the United States military control of Lake Erie and renewing morale

8. Battles Along the Canadian Border
Control of Lake Erie allowed William Henry Harrison to march into Canada with his ground forces
Battle of the Thames River (October 1813)
William Henry Harrison defeated British and Native American forces
Harrison’s victory ended British power in the Northwest Territory
Tecumseh’s death during the battle struck a blow to the British alliance with Native Americans in the region

9. The Creek War
War between the United States and Native American forces erupted in the south in 1813
Creek tribe angry that settlers were pushing into their lands
Attacked Fort Mims on the Alabama River
Destroyed the fort and killed 250 Americans
Andrew Jackson
American Commander of the Tennessee militia
Gathered 2,000 volunteers (hence the nickname “The Volunteer State”) to fight against the Creek Nation

10. The Creek War Jackson attacked the Creek in spring of 1814
Jackson’s victory against the Creek became known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Treaty of Fort Jackson
Ended the Creek War
Forced the Creek Nation to give up millions of acres of their land for white settlement

11. Great Britain on the Offensive
Despite US victories in the West and South, the situation was dire in the East
Great Britain defeats Napoleon’s France in 1814 and could now focus all of their energy on the war in America
Sent more troops to America

12. British Attacks in the East
Great Britain attacked Washington D.C.
President James Madison forced to flee the capital
British set fire to the city and burned the White House
Dolley Madison
Wife of President James Madison
Refused to leave the White House until a famous portrait of George Washington was rescued
Dolley Madison

13. British Attacks in the East
British moved south to Maryland
Attacked Fort McHenry
Shelled the fort for 25 hours
Americans refused to surrender, even in this dark hour

14. British Attacks in the East
Francis Scott Key
Watched “…the bombs bursting in air” at Fort McHenry “…o’er the ramparts” on the night of September 13-September 14, 1814
In the morning, when the smoke cleared, Francis Scott Key saw “…broad stripes and bright stars” flying over Fort McHenry
Because “…the flag was still there”, Francis Scott Key became overwhelmed with American pride and wrote a little poem
We know this poem today as “The Star-Spangled Banner”
The flag that so inspired Francis Scott Key now resides as an exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.

15. The Battle of New Orleans
After the attack on Washington, British forces moved on the New Orleans
The British goal was the capture the city and take control of the Mississippi River
Andrew Jackson in control of American forces in New Orleans
Forces made up of regular soldiers, free African Americans, Choctaw Native Americans, state militia, and French Pirates led by Jean Lafitte

16. The Battle of New Orleans
Began on the morning of January 8, 1815
As British forces began marching toward US defenses, they were caught in an open field undefended
More than 2,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded in a short span of time
Americans suffered only 70 casualties
This battle made Andrew Jackson a national hero
Last major battle of the War of 1812

17. Effects of the War
Prior to the Battle of New Orleans, a group of New England Federalists met secretly in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Convention
Federalists agreed to oppose the war and send delegates to meet with Congress
Before the delegates could reach Congress, news arrived that the war was over
Critics mocked the Federalists and the party lost much of its power

18. Effects of the War Treaty of Ghent
Signed in Belgium on Christmas Eve 1814
Ended the War of 1812
Slow communications prevented the Federalists or Andrew Jackson from knowing of the war’s end

19. Cause and Effect CAUSES EFFECTS
British impressment of United States sailors
Increased sense of national pride
Interference with American shipping
American manufacturing boosted
British military aid to Native Americans
Native American resistance weakened